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For Sale box image

For Sale

For Sale is a quick and easy-to-learn auction game where players bid on properties and then sell them for profit. The game is divided into two phases: buying and selling, and the player with the most money at the end of the game wins.

7.25 / 10
BGG Rating
10+
age
1997
published year
3 - 6
player count
3 - 6
Recommended player count
30 mins
play time

How Complex is For Sale?

1.25 / 5

For Sale is easy to understand and play, with simple rules and mechanics that can be learned quickly by players of all ages and skill levels.

How much Luck is involved in the gameplay of For Sale?

2 / 5

Luck plays a moderate role in For Sale as property and currency cards come into play in random order, and the order of the cards can affect the outcome, but strategic bidding and selling can mitigate the luck factor.

How much Player Interaction does For Sale offer?

3 / 5

For Sale has moderate player interaction as players bid against each other for properties, but there is limited opportunity for direct interaction beyond that. However, the game can still be enjoyable and competitive.

How much Replayability does For Sale offer?

3 / 5

For Sale offers moderate replayability due to the random order of property & currency cards and the varying number of players, making each game unique and challenging. The game also has a short playtime, making it easy to play multiple times in one sitting.

Why you should play For Sale

Quick to Learn

For Sale is a simple game, making it an excellent choice for new players or those looking for a short game.

Easy to Play

The game mechanics are straightforward, with players only needing to bid on properties and sell them for the highest profit.

Strategic

Despite its simplicity, For Sale requires strategic thinking and decision-making. Players must carefully consider which properties to bid on and when to sell them to maximize their profits.

Replayability

With various properties and a changing market, each game of For Sale is unique and offers a good amount of replayability.

Fun for All Ages

For Sale is a game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, making it a great choice for family game nights or a casual game with friends.

Portable

The game comes in a small box, making it easy to take and play anywhere.

Great for Small Groups

For Sale is designed for 3-6 players, making it a great choice for smaller groups looking for a fun and engaging game.

Why you should avoid For Sale

Limited Strategic Depth

While For Sale does require strategic thinking and decision-making, some players may find that the game lacks the depth and complexity of other strategy games. This may make it less appealing to players looking for a more challenging or complex game experience.

Where to play For Sale online?

Where to find the Rules of For Sale

Check the rules of For Sale in a PDF file.

You can also find the community-driven rules summary, player aid, etc., in the For Sale files section on the BoardGameGeek website. You need an account on BGG to download files.

Strategies for For Sale

Don't overspend

In phase 1, don't spend half or nearly half of your money on one property. Keep in mind that you have to buy more properties with the remaining money and find a balance to have a chance at winning.

Patience is the key

In For Sale, you can often see a bidding war for the first 2 to 3 high-value properties, it's necessary to go after valuable property, but you should know where to draw the line and back off from bidding more.

Property card value ranges from 1 to 30. It's okay if you can't buy 29 or 30 due to excessive bidding. You can wait and purchase other high-value properties like 26 or 28 for a reasonable price.

Know when to pass

Doing well in phase 1 is crucial. For example, let's say the current properties up for bidding are 2 - 8 - 10 - 29, and the highest bid so far is $9K; with all players bidding other than you, you should pass and take 2.

The reason being the price is already half the starting budget, and the remaining cards are low-value. If you bid, you may end up overpaying for one of the low-value properties as after bidding, to pass, you have to pay half the bid to the bank to take the lower-value property.

Start the bidding low

If you bid first, always start with $1K or $2K. This way, you will better understand how badly other players want the high-value property. This way, you can pass on bidding more early when needed.

Keep track of your opponents' money

Knowing how much money your opponents have can help you make better decisions during the auction. If you know an opponent is running low on money, you can bid more aggressively to force them to spend more.

Pay attention to the cards played

In phase 1, remember which properties are sold and who bought those. This will give you an idea of which properties will come next and who will bid for them. In phase 2, remember the currency cards taken and which properties were sold. This lets you make a decision about which property to sell and when.

This is easier with a higher player count, as some property & currency cards are removed when you play with three or four players.

When selling properties, check the relative difference

This will clarify which property to sell in phase 2. Ideally, you should try to gain more than your opponents from every sale.

For example, let's say 0, 5K, 7K, and 14K currency cards are in the middle, and here, the relative difference between the highest and lowest currency is 14K. Hence, you must sell a high-value property to win the 14K card. This will put you in a considerable advantage.

Let's take another example, 10K, 12K, 14K and 14K. Here, the difference is only 4K. Even if you take the low-value you card, it won't put in a bad spot. You can even throw your two numbered property for this round. You have no pressure to win the high-value card.

The key to success in For Sale is to be adaptable and strategic. By paying attention to the cards that have been played, the strategies of your opponents, and taking calculated risks, you can increase your chances of winning.

Mechanics

Auction/Bidding
Hand Management
Auction: Turn Order Until Pass
Auction: Sealed Bid
Selection Order Bid

Categories

Card Game
Economic